Knockdown portable table



June 12, 1951 FiledNov. 14, 1947 W. S. CRUMPLER.

KNOCKDOWN PORTABLE TABLE 2 Sheets-Shee-w; 1

A No rneys June 12, 1951* w. s. CRUMPLER xNocxnowN PORTABLE TABLE yli'iled Nov. 14, 1947 2 sheets-shea 2 Patented June 12, `1951 UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE KNOCKDOWN PORTABLE TABLE `William S. Crumpler, Clinton, N. C.

Application November 14, 1947, `Serial No. 785,953

a claims. l

This invention relates to an improved construction of portable table especially adapted for outdoor use and which comprises a plurality of units detachably connected together and each composed of demountablesections including a table top formed of nesting leaves, to thus produce a multiple table structure of extremely simple construction capable of being stored in a limited space when not in use and which may be readily transported in a demounted condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a table which will afford a maximum of usable space yet which will be extremely light in weight and durable.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a table having supporting means capable of being readily imbedded in the ground or removed therefrom and which will function to support the table with a maximum of stability.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a table structure wherein a number of table units may be connected in spaced relationship and whereby each of said table units will tend to stabilize the other units and wherein the connecting elements therebetween will afford additional supporting surfaces for utility in conjunction with the table units.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure l is a top plan' view showing the assembled table formed of two table units;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

- Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of the table and illustrating a secondary use thereof;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, partly in side elevation, of the central portion of one of the table units, and

Figure 5 shows the table top of one of the table units nested and with the connecting element disposed thereon.

vReferring more specifically to the drawings, the improved portable nesting table constituting the invention is designated generally I and is shown as being composed of two corresponding table units, each designated generally 8 and which are detachably connected together by a connecting element 9.

Each table unit 8 includes a table top, designated generally I0 and composed of three leaves II, I2 and I3 of substantially the same length and width and each of which is preferably provided with opposite recessed side edge portions I4, intermediate of the ends thereof and with a centrally disposed opening I5. The upper surface of the uppermost leaf I3 is recessed or provided with a countersink I6 around the opening I5 thereof and said aligned openings are adapted to receive the tubular shank I'I of a fastening element, designated generally I8, which extends downwardly therethrough and which is provided with an annular flange at .the upper end thereof forming a head IS which seats in the recess or countersink I6. The lower end of the shank II projects from the underside of the bottom leaf I I and is externally threaded, as seen at 2i! to receive a nut, designated generally 2I, which is preferably in the form of a T-shaped coupling the intermediate socket portion 22 of which is internally threaded to receive the threaded end 2t. A washer 23 is disposed between said portion 22 and the underside of the bottom leaf Il and it will be readily apparent that the nut 2I can be tightened for clamping the leaves II, I2 and I3 either in a nested position, one above the other as illustrated in Figure 5, or in a spread or ex tended position as illustrated in Figures l and 3, and by loosening the nut 2I the leaves may be rotated for positioning them in either a nested position or an extended position.

The portion of the T-shaped nut 2 I, opposite to the intermediate socket 22 is provided with an opening 24 of substantially the same diameter as the threaded bore of the socket 22 for removably receiving therein the upper end of a post 25 having a restricted shank portion 2B which projects from said upper end rotatably into the bore of the tubular stem II and so that the upper end of said post will define a shoulder around the shank 26 and which is adapted to bear against the lower end of the stem I1. The post 25 is also rotatably and slideably disposed in the opening 24 so that said post can be rotated relatively to the fastening I8, 2I. As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the lower end of the post 25 is provided with a tapered threaded terminal 2'! by means of which the lower end of the post may be driven into the ground by exerting a downward pressure thereon while at the same time rotating the post. To facilitate this operation,- a rod 28 extends diam-etrcally through the post 25, below the nut 2| and has its ends protruding substantially therefrom and forming handles by means of which a downward and torsional pressure may be applied manually on the post 25 for anchoring it in the ground.

As seen in Figures l and 2, two of the table units 8 are shown assembled and in extended positions and it will be noted that the bottom leaves II thereof are each provided, preferably adjacent each end thereof, with a pair of transversely spaced openings 29. The connecting element or leaf 9 is provided adjacent each end thereof with similarly located bolts or pins 30 and is adapted to be positioned with its ends resting on the adjacent ends of the bottom leaves I I of the two table units 8 and with the bolts or pins 30 thereof depending into the openings 29 of said ends of the leaves Ii for detachably connecting the leaves' I I rigidly in spaced relationship. It will likewise be readily apparent that an additional unit 8 could be connected by another attaching leaf 9 at the opposite end of either of the bottom leaves II in the same manner, so that the table 'I could be composed of two, three or more table units 8. As clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the ends of the leaves II, I2 and I3 are preferably convexly rounded and the ends of the connecting leaf 3 are preferably concavely rounded.

The connecting leaf 9 is preferably provided with spaced openings 32 which are arranged a distance apart equal to one third the distance between the posts so that the leaf 9 may be initially used as a layout member for marking off the proper spacing between the posts 25, after which said posts may be driven into the ground, as previously described, and the table tops I0 thereafter placed thereon and the leaves I2 and I3 then extended. The bottom leaves I I are subsequently connected by the leaf 9, as previously described, thus enabling the table I to be readily set up by one person.

The outer ends of the bottom leaves I I and both ends of the leaves I2 and I3 may be utilized with a place setting so that ve persons may sit at each of the table units 8 and the leaf 9 may also be utilized for seating additional persons at the table I or for supporting a portable cooking stove.

The top leaf I3 of each table unit I0 has four openings or recesses 3 I, as seen in Figure l, which are properly spaced to receive the pins or bolts when the leaf 9 is stacked thereon, as seen in Figure 5.

As best seen in Figure 2, the legs 25 are formed of upper and lower sections 33 and 34 and the upper section has a restrictedv depending extension 35 that is threaded to fit an upwardly opening threaded socket 36 of the section 34 for detachably connecting the sections to permit their dismantling for more convenient storage.

The upper section 33 is of sufcient length so that it can be threaded into a socket 31 of a crossshaped base 38, by the use of a pair of which bases 38 the table units I6 may be erected indoors or on a concrete or other solid outdoor surface.

The leg 25 can be used outdoors by being. driven into the ground and with the folded table top as a seat or a folding table of smaller size may be employed in this manner.

Various modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter dened by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A demountable table comprising a plurality of table units each including a table top formed of a plurality of superposed leaves, adjustable means extending through the central portions of said leaves for rotatably connecting said leaves whereby the leaves may be positioned in either an extended position or a nested position relatively to one another, said means being adjustable for clamping the leaves inl either of said positions, a post forming a part of each table unit and having one end to be driven into the ground for anchoring said post in an upright position, said means constructed for detachably receiving the opposite, upper end of the post for demountably supporting the table top thereon, a connecting leaf extending :between adjacently disposed ends of the bottom leaves of two of said table units, and means for detachably connecting the ends of said connecting leaf to the adjacent ends of said bottom leaves.

2. A table as in claim 1, said means comprising a tubularV stem extending rotatably through the central portions of said leaves and having a headed upper end countersunk in the upper leaf and an externally threaded lower end extending below the bottom leaf, a clamping nut for engaging the externally threaded end of said tubular shank for cooperation with the head thereof for releasably clamping the leaves, and said post having a restricted upper end extending detachably into said tubular shank and providing an upwardly facing shoulder on which the lower end of said shank rests.

3. A table as in. claim 1, said connecting leaf having `openings spaced apart a predetermined distance relatively to the effective lengths of the bottom leaves and connecting leaf for measuring the distance between the posts of the table `units whereby said posts may be initially erected in properly spaced relationship for subsequent application of the connected table tops thereto.

WILLIAM S. CRUMPLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

NID STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 409,930 Cornillie Aug. 27, 1889 454,508 Udell June 23, 1891 668,522 Jolly' Feb. 19, 1901 1,225,234 Fox May 8, 1913 1,227,681 Simms May 29, 1917 1,297,866 Kitchener Mar. 18, 1919 1,439,986 Wallinder Dec. 26, 1922 1,520,518 Thomason Dec. 23, 1924 1,789,432 Goodman Jan. 20, 1931` 1,839,783 Bloom Jan. 5, 1932i 1,890,409v Roberts Dec. 6, 1932 1,930,742 De-Saussure, Jr. Oct. 17, 1933-; 1,942,190 Smullin Jan. 2,v 1934 1,952,665 Failey Mar.v 27, 1934 2,031,398 Wagener Feb. 18,. 1936' 2,101,573 Cramer' Dec. 7, 1937 

